In this article you will learn about the basic Characteristics of Sovereignty in Political Science.
Characteristics of Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the supreme power of the state over its citizens without any internal or external limitation. The following are the basic characteristics of Sovereignty and these clearly reveal its nature as the absolute and supreme power of the State.
Originality
Sovereignty is the original power of the state. It is neither delegated by any association to the State nor the State derives it from any other sources. Sovereignty is not dependent on any external source because it has got its original power. It is self-made, self-created and self-possessed. The absence of originality means the absence of sovereignty.
Permanence
Sovereignty is a permanent component of State. As long as the State exists, sovereignty also exists with it and as long as sovereignty exists, State also exists. States never change but the government of the state keeps on changing as each government enjoys a definite fixed tenure. Sovereignty lives as long as a State lives. The death of sovereignty means the death of the State and vice-versa, but the death of a person who wields sovereignty does not mean the death of sovereignty. Sovereignty, as such, is a permanent element of the State.
Absoluteness
All the people and places within the territory of the State are under the supreme power i.e. Sovereignty of the State. It is the absolute, unlimited and supreme power of the State. It is always free from all types of internal and external limitations and no power can limit sovereignty. It is the absolute power of controlling and regulating all the acts of the individuals and their groups. If sovereignty is not absolute, no State exists and it can alone limit its scope and sphere of activity.
Exclusiveness
Sovereignty is exclusive in nature. It exclusively belongs only to the State and the State alone can exercise sovereignty. In each State there is only one sovereignty and one sovereign exercises it. Two or more sovereigns mean two or more sovereignties and two or more sovereignties mean the presence of two or more States.
Comprehensiveness
Sovereignty of the State is all-comprehensive and all-inclusive supreme power of the State. State exercises sovereignty over all the people, their groups and all parts of its territory. There is no area of authority or part of territory of the State which is not under its control. There is no person or group who can avoid or neglect the sovereign power of the State. The State itself may voluntarily accept any limitation in this respect. The embassies of other states located in the territory of the state are free from the authority of the state. This is an auto-limitation voluntarily accepted by the State and it stands accepted because the embassies of the State in other States are also free from the authority of the States of their location. Each State accepts the rules of International Law i.e. it can give its territory or lease or can accept any limitation by its own will. It is bound only by limitations that it accepts voluntarily.
Inalienability
State cannot separate its sovereignty from itself. The State cannot leave its sovereignty either in full or in part, if it partakes its sovereignty, it commits suicide or is considered dead. Leiber has observed that, “Sovereignty can no more be alienated than a tree can alienate its rights to sprout or a man can transfer his life or personality to another without any self-destruction.
Imperceptibility
Sovereignty permanently belongs to the State and no part of it can be taken away. Even when the State does not exercise sovereignty, it continues to live. The State may or may not use it for sometime but it does not mean the death of sovereignty. Sovereignty is unnoticeable and yet it continuously lives as the chief property or the State.
This article on Characteristics of Sovereignty in Political Science is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.